Airport lobbying works with U.S. Airlines

The business community, feverishly fighting to keep SLO County Airport expansion plans alive, scored a small victory recently with the addition of one new flight to Phoenix.

Through a fervent lobbying effort by the San Luis Obispo County Air Transportation Alliance (SLOCATA), U.S. Airways agreed to add another daily flight and a larger 86-passenger jet. The additional flight comes on the heels of a failed plea to American Eagle, which will cut its SLO service on Nov. 1. Delta Airlines has also cut flights, although the business community focused to retain American Eagle.

The U.S. Airways increase will add 122 passenger seats between October and December, which SLOCATA said nearly offsets the other losses.

Despite the airline turmoil, officials are still creeping forward with plans to build a new terminal and parking structure.